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How Long Did It Take You To Put A Doll Together?

Aug 28, 2024

    1. I'm working on some SD sized dolls and I'm laughing at how long this is taking getting them together and getting them clothed and faced up and all.

      One is in a box in pieces because I foolishly took her apart while cleaning and sanding her. (She's a very old Spiritdoll and desperately needed a refresh.) My hands are messed up, autoimmune disease flare, so it's going to be six months at least before I get her back together and faced up and some kind of outfit put on her.

      My 2nd SD sized girl her body is due later this week and thank goodness she has a basic faceup but she has no wig and I need to get her some pretty eyes. Her costume is 3/4 done though which helps a lot and I likely have shoes that will fit her so she's the closest of the 3 to being done.

      My SD sized boy he's been a work in progress for months. I just finally bought him a basic dress shirt and some pants that will likely fit but no wig and the only blue eyes I have are too big. His feet are the biggest problem though. He has pretty large feet and finding boots or shoes to actually fit him that don't cost $35 and up has been a problem. He's nearly 70cm and just bigger than a lot of SD sized boys in terms of his proportions. I really need some black boots or dress shoes that don't break the bank!

      I knew when I got them that this wasn't going to be instantaneous but I forgot how much harder it was to put together SD sized dolls vs the minis I am used to. Then again if I had bought them all new I'd have been waiting a year probably just to get them so...

      I'm hoping to have two at least reasonably done by Jan but if the first one is done by March of 2025 I will be surprised...

      You? How long is it taking you project-wise? Do you think that taking months to do up a doll is reasonable? I'm used to the minis and to me they are so much easier...
       
      • x 3
    2. I never put deadlines on my personal doll projects, it just stresses me out.
      The SDs are big, and they require a lot; even if you have one that "just" needs a faceup; the prep for that alone, keeping yourself safe, and the over all time and effort can take a week or more.

      Currently, I have on my work desk
      • Two sets of hooves that need to be completed.
      • SD horns that need to be completed; and magnets installed.
      • Four doll heads that need full faceups (I also need to redo some of my older faceups)
      • Two doll heads that need bodies.
      This does not include any wigs, eyes, or clothing that these particular dolls might need.

      I have learned that with this hobby comes a lot of waiting, and doing the little things one at a time. When I see something that will work for a doll and it's a good price, I buy it. When I see something that will further along a doll that I'm working on, and it's within budget; it's the same concept. This does mean that with my own dolls, some of them will sit for months to even a year until I have the right pieces to put them together. On the contrast, I may end up buying a doll head, having the "right" pieces for that doll because I've bought past things that fit and have that project done in a week.

      I'm so sorry that your work has been pushed back some by medical issues! But, I promise that there is no "right" timeline to get anything done. Just try to enjoy your dolls at a pace that fits your needs. <3
       
      • x 3
    3. Personally, I'm very fast at "finishing" (if they ever reach true "completeness" is a question for another time. But I consider clean, reasonably color matched- for hybrids, eyes, faceup, shoes, clothes they can wear that fit their vibe- even if from the shared outfit bin, and wig- if needed- to be in the "finished" category). At least, I'm fast if I'm passionate about the doll, and if I'm not passionate I move them along. Usually, unless I'm waiting on specific eyes, shoes, or clothes (most of which I try to buy ahead of time or have spares lying around of- not a hoarder I swear lol), the doll will be "done" in under a week, usually over a weekend. Occasionally life circumstances, body arrival times, etc will delay when I actually work on the doll, but once I have all the parts it's usually just a couple days. I just get so excited that I get into hyperfocused "gotta go fast" mode (ignoring my own chronic issues lmao) because I want to do their first photoshoot (maybe my metric for "finished" is actually "photographed in a more formal way", for which they need to look presentable)
      I very much am a "everyone has their own timelines, it's nothing to be ashamed of or get down on yourself for" sort of person though. I think, so long as you're not stealing/infringing on intellectual property, making racist caricatures, or doing anything else-wise immoral, then there's no wrong way to enjoy dolls, bjd or otherwise.
      So, take your time, be gentle with yourself, and enjoy the process of putting your bigger dolls together! Sometimes it's the journey that is the most rewarding!
      (Also, what size are your sd boys feet? I looove doll shoes, and might be able to recommend some for ya)
       
      #3 fairithilien, Aug 28, 2024
      Last edited: Aug 28, 2024
      • x 2
    4. I've got some medical issues that have caused a complete stop to most of my doll crafting, so I am very empathetic to your plight. I am rather new to the hobby, and was just starting to find what brings me the most joy with bjds; making little outfits, photography, and stories! My hands started having some significant issues about 5 months ago which made me stop crocheting, sewing, doing general maintenance, photographing, and typing for long enough to make any progress. Then my whole body followed suit with similar issues in the beginning of July, totally destroying the possibility of enjoying anything. Luckily, I've been able to kind-of address some of the issues with temporary and "good enough" medicinal and physical therapy solutions, and I've got some longer term solutions in the works (yippee for doctor referals to specialists!). I've been attempting to test my new limits by doing some non-doll related embroidery with a hoop stand, but also "easier" doll tasks like dressing my dolls in pre-made clothing (which has been a lot harder than I remember it being at the start of thus year *_*).

      Luckily, I don't feel too much pressure to "finish" doll projects. At the beginning of 2024, I did make a list of goals for the year, but I think it's safe to say those won't be met as originally intended. I think I'll just make a general "To-Do" list without deadlines from now on, because my health (physical and mental) is still very unpredictable. I have more fun with things anyway when I'm not stressing over deadlines...but that sometimes means projects never get completed :sweat that's not too bad of a thing when it comes to my dolls as the projects never seem to come to an end. There's always something more for me to do, more techniques to explore, more character traits to discover, more art to make, etc. That can be a double edged sword since there's no definitive "completion" and I tend to deny myself those accomplishment endorphins, but I'm working on accepting my nature as a category EF5 crafting-nado :XD:

      All that is to say, try not to be too hard on yourself! Projects for fun/hobbies are not meant to be disheartening. Take your time, enjoy the process, it's not a race, and other similar platitudes are actually applicable here. I know how frustrating it is to have flare ups (before all the new stuff, I already had seriously, shall we say "unproductive" periods due to chronic medical conditions), but there's not really much you can do to outright avoid these times, so enjoy what you can when you can, and know the dollies will be there when you're up to playing. They won't hold any grudges, I promise! ;)
       
      • x 4
    5. He has pretty large 9.5cm almost 10cm feet. They are definitely what they call uncle sized feet and so far all his potential shoes are like $35 and up.I need a basic black long boot for his fairy tale outfit and a pair of dress shoes for his modern outfit that won't break the bank or take 3 months to show up. He had two worlds he lives in and I'm going to switch off outfits for photo shoots etc.

      I can definitely relate. I've been having hand issues for a long time which is frustrating because I craft in several ways. But about 3 months ago I started a AD major flare, lots of hand swelling and I developed a contracture in my R hand, 3rd finger, which is something that has really set me back in terms of using my hands for anything. I had to break down and start buying parts of my doll's first outfits rather than making them because sewing is super hard right now even machine sewing. It's frustrating because I have certain things I want them to have in terms of clothes and it's expensive stuff to just buy...
       
      • x 1
    6. Unfinished dolls weigh on my mind, and I discovered this through one doll I bought shortly after I came back from hobby hiatus. I received the body first before buying the doll's head, but when the head came home and I put him together, I discovered that the body didn't resin-match the head, and I disliked absolutely everything about its jointing and appearance. Furthermore, I didn't have the doll's proper "look" on hand when I made him whole, I was using whatever wig and eyes I had, so he completely didn't look like the character I had in mind (I shell OCs and usually have a vision of them beforehand). It stressed me out, because while I liked the head sculpt, I was not bonding with the doll at all because of the unsuitable body and appearance, I was even starting to dislike him.

      In the end, I sold the first body very quickly, preordered a new one, and while waiting, I bought his proper eyes and wigs and clothes. When his new body came home, I was able to make a full doll AND have him look like my OC right away. But it still took me a while to bond to him. Thankfully it all worked out, and he's now a favourite of mine!

      .
      This was a big lesson for me. I can maybe tolerate 1, at most 2, unfinished dolls at any time; more than that and the mental pressure to "get it done" starts stressing me out. I can keep floating heads kinda out of sight, out of mind, but eventually I can't ignore them anymore. And I own mostly 1/3 dolls, so their presence is just too big to hide away. Also, a "finished doll" means I can recognise my OC in the doll, it's no longer just a generic doll dressed in whatever clothes and wig. They don't have to be perfect, I just have to see my character. Then I feel a lot more relaxed and can now take time to refine their appearance.

      Nowadays when I order a new doll, I try to budget in money, time and energy to also get/make a basic set of wig, eyes and clothes suitable for the character, so everything's on hand and the resin is the last thing to arrive. It does help that I tend to buy new dolls on preorder, so there's plenty of time to assemble those things. (I'm OK with painting the faceup after they come home but I try to do this ASAP.) That way I can straightaway assemble a presentable doll that looks like my OC, and starting taking pics and enjoying them.

      It also means that I don't buy new dolls until the outstanding preorders are home and finished to my liking. (I'm currently in the situation where I have a new doll on my wishlist, but I'm delaying the order because I already have 1 full doll and 1 head in production, I want to finish those dolls first.) I'd rather miss out on new dolls and have mental peace, than buy them too quickly and have the stress of having too many unfinished ones lying arond.

      .
      As for your question "Do you think that taking months to do up a doll is reasonable?" - I think it's reasonable if you're comfortable with taking your time and having incomplete projects persist, and if you can accept that sometimes one has to compromise on what one can achieve in X amount of time. Everyone approaches dolls and projects differently, and we all have different means and abilities to reach our goals -- some of us take longer than others. It's not a shame or a crime to have an incomplete doll at home, and to take time to make them whole!
       
      • x 4
    7. Ideally, I want my doll "done" within a day or two of getting them home. I have hard time bonding to dolls that go ages without being finished. I will buy everything I need for them before they get home if I can, or plan it in advance. I do my own faceups.

      Sometimes, if I'm buying secondhand, in stock or making a hybrid, it'll take longer and I just get so impatient! I'm not good at waiting. Once I get in the zone, I just have to finish a project, or it's going to get pushed aside and forgotten, or cause a lot of frustration.

      But this is just for initially "finishing" them. I don't think a doll is ever truly finished for me. I'm often getting them better eyes or wig, updating faceups, buying and making more clothes. I think of all that more as "growing" than finishing, though. Like the better I get to know the doll/character, the better I can make them truly themselves. That can be ongoing for years! I just bought Cooper another alternate head, and I've had him almost 5 years.
       
      • x 2
    8. I can understand alternate outfits or accessories like extra hands or feet. But the multiple heads for one doll thing is odd to me. Except maybe for awake/sleeping I don't really get that one. When someone says I've got 5 heads for this one doll I'm like "Really? What for?"
       
    9. I own some twenty-something-year-old BJD, that I haven't completed and might never get there (I ain't getting any younger!). I never created any specific timeframes for me to complete any of my doll projects. I just like having things I can work on, and switch between if I grow bored or feel like I've grown "stale" with my advancing any particular doll customization project. I feel that helps me, always remain interested in my own dolls, and never want to sell any.

      It might sound frustrating to some , but I sincerely believe there is no wrong or right way to enjoy a hobby. It's up to the individual, and if you want to complete a doll within a specific timeframe, and are able to do so, more power to you!

      I'm personally in no hurry, even if it means no completed dolls ever -- I do sincerely enjoy working and reworking on my dolls, so for me it's all part of the enjoyment I get out of customizing my own dolls. Everyone is different. (:
       
      • x 2
    10. Ordinarily I’m pretty fast at getting my dolls put together. I have usually purchased my dolls on layaways (the longer the better) and I spend the waiting time happily developing and refining their character, and procuring what they’ll need for completion. I’ll even begin working on their wardrobes if I have any doll similarly sized already in my collection. So once they’re finally home, I can do their faceup and get them properly put together usually within a week. BUT! I’ve had my amazing Dollzone mermaid (over 100cm!) for a year now and she’s still nowhere near done. I built her a special display pretty quickly (since the only other place she fit was on the floor) and that went very well. And I was able to sew her an entire wardrobe about 6 months in, which turned out great. But still she languishes, like the great etherial creature she is, without eyes or faceup or body blushing and artwork. Still, I’m being gentle with myself about all this because I know there’s no deadline…and art and its processes take time. It’s too hot and humid this summer to be ordering and spraying MSC anyway. So in the meantime, I just enjoy looking at her blank sculpt, dressed, suspended in her lovely display, and I marvel at the amazing piece of unfinished art that she is.:)
       
      • x 1
    11. If a doll arrives to me without a faceup I like or a matching body, it can take me yeaars to get it finished. It's because I'm so fussy about these things - I'd rather wait and get it right.

      I currently have a Migidoll Miho head that's been sitting in a drawer for, I think two years? I've lost track, honestly. I want a particular body for him that I know will be perfect, and no other will do, so I'm just waiting for one to come up for sale secondhand. I also had a delf breakaway that languished for years in the same drawer because I wanted to get him repainted by a particular artist, but their commissions weren't open at the time.

      I mean, I could have finished both of those dolls way quicker if I wasn't so set on getting that body and that faceup artist.

      It's so nice when I buy a doll that is whole and already has a perfect faceup. I wish it was always that easy. I deal with the frustration of waiting by putting the unfinished dolls out of sight and pretending I don't own them.
       
      • x 1
    12. It took me 13 years to buy a body for a floating head. I fell in love with him about a month later, then completed his look around 5 months after that! He was worth the effort after all :whee:
       
      • x 3
    13. I get stressed when I have naked or incomplete dolls. This was a worse problem when I was a new owner, since I didn't have a wardrobe to pull from when I got a new doll. Over time, though, it's gotten a lot easier. My dolls can share clothes when they arrive if I don't have something that's "theirs" yet, and sometimes old outfits that didn't work at all with the doll I bought them for can fit the new doll perfectly, so. If you're a new owner and frustrated with waiting so much, it'll definitely be better once you've been in the hobby a little longer.

      As for the amount of time, my oldest dolls took years to get to a point where they felt complete, so I can take a while to complete a doll with little issue. My SD boy Dimitri took six years. I was even considering selling him because it felt like he'd forever be a WIP, and then by a miracle I managed to buy the wig and eyes I'd been looking at for years, and suddenly he was done. Still, some dolls come together very easily. My Dika Doll Winter Solstice boy took only a few months after he arrived to feel complete, and then a few months later when i gave him a new faceup, he truly felt "real," ie, he fully embodied the concept I chose for him.

      I think it's really nice when a doll comes together easily, but oh my gosh finishing Dimitri was the best feeling ever. Easy projects really can't compare to an eternal WIP suddenly becoming complete. At least, to me.
       
      • x 2
    14. Not having complete dolls doesn't stress me out. I've had a lot of family medical stuff to deal with in the last year and a half, plus a move across the country and a medical issue. Sometimes life just gets in the way and I have to be patient.

      My situation is about to stabilise, but I can't do any faceups because of the rainy cold winter weather.
      I also have some floating heads I want bodies for, but because the Australian dollar is weak against USD, which most dollmakers outside Japan use, it's a matter of carefully deciding the right body then waiting for a sale.

      I enjoy my dolls being "dynamic" and never truly finished: if I don't want to sew for them or take them places with me, then I've mentally moved on from them.
       
      • x 2
    15. I always buy my dolls without face-up if possible, plus, I have one hybrid (soon to be two), so my time for completion per doll (1 wig or 0 if the dolls is an anthro/fantasy and doesn't need it, 1 pair of eyes, 1 face-up and 1 complete outfit) ranges from 0 days for a couple of limited dolls that were complete from the moment they came home to more than a year.
      That said, one of my dolls for examples has been trying on different bodies from time to time for 13 years or so due to me wanting to check different joint types but I still have considered her complete despite that change.
       
    16. It usually takes me years to complete a project. I have dolls that can be showable fairly quicly (with the right faceup, eyes and wig) but the rest takes a long time. I'm a mess when it comes to manicure, body blushing and not to mention tattoos. Nearly all my dolls are supposed to have specific tattoos. And the outfits? It's hard to find something fitting the character, or to sew it (I'm not a very good seamstres, I must confess).
      I also live very well with absolutely naked and nude dolls, and after the first few weeks when I'm dying to complete them, I can spend years with flying heads.
       
      • x 1
    17. I have a couple dolls who I had their look ready pretty quickly, full set dolls excluded. But mostly they deviate from my plans. Sometimes maybe months to decide what I want.... only for me to change my mind as soon as I've put it together. And even when I have good plans sometimes it takes can takes weeks to muster up the discipline to get stuff done. I have been trying to work up to making a new outfit for I guess over a month now... :sweatLuckily that dolls are so patient, so it's only your own patience you have to worry about :kitty2

      And like nyaaain said, it does end up being all of the fuss no matter how much time it took. That's why I stopped letting myself sell my uncompletes. It is usually worth it when your vision finally takes its form. So I just take it baby steps as much as I can muster.

      I did make myself stop with floating heads, because I will not be able to resist getting them a body eventually :sweat I can't help it, I want to see all my babies! But it's not without its merits! As I understand it, it's a way to have multiple doll characters if you're limited on either space or funds. And whether it's done for money or space, you save money each time you don't buy a new body which can be put towards other nice things, like clothes and accessories or fancy face up. You can't display them all at once, but you can still enjoy the beauty of each head when you bring them out to play. As a bonus, you only have to worry about one size to buy clothes ;) so while it's not for me, sometimes I wish I could handle it :chibi what a glorious wardrobe my dolls would have by now! oh well :XD:
       
      • x 1
    18. I don't even like sleeping heads so that would never work for me swapping heads out like that one princess in Oz.

      I have one more SD sized doll now than I meant to get because she just ended up looking completely wrong with the boy I meant her to partner. She's exceptionally old but she has a pretty good body. She's just her own character now that's all.

      My one floating head her body should be here shortly.Today maybe even as she's waiting for a delivery slot in the Bronx apparently...

      My dolls sometimes wait for outfits and stuff but they almost never wait long for a body. I'm really not so much into the whole floating head thing. If I'm not interested enough in a doll that he or she doesn't get one and the doll head sits for months then I will sell it or give it away.

      When it comes to BJD dolls one person's trash head is often another's treasure...
       
    19. Honestly it depends on the circumstances in my life at the time.

      I have gotten a doll and in the same day sewn up the clothes, done the faceup, the body blush have the doll looking all pretty in the single day that it arrived.

      Other times, I've just stared at the blank doll in a box asking myself where to begin??? Then it might take me awhile to get it together, I just realized my most recent doll, still in the box also doesn't have shoes!

      It once took me over a month to even open the box because I had stuff to do and had to leave while our house got tented, I had put the box in a secure locked location, but when I opened it the doll had leg damage from shipping, thankfully the company sent me a new leg. Now I at least open the box and check the doll when it gets here.

      My current new doll has been here three days and I am just getting around to the faceup and body blush today. He still has no clothes or shoes, I ordered the wig with him. I have a basket of eyes, so not worried about that.

      Anyway, I think it's fine to take a long time to fix up a doll. It's a project that can last awhile and that makes it fun.
       
      #19 RabbidBunnies, Aug 29, 2024
      Last edited: Aug 29, 2024
      • x 2
    20. Most dolls get “finished” here within 2 weeks of coming in. I have spare eyes, and the supplies to make more eyes, I have a ton of spare wigs, and extra clothes, so the wait is faceups, which I can usually squeeze in if I have time on the weekend. With that said, I have a doll who’s been a mod project since 2020, and two dolls awaiting chest resculpting for the last few weeks. I have another doll that’s waiting for some mods to fit a chest from another brand that’s gonna be interesting. So mods way slow down my timeline, but if all I need to do is dress them and wigs/eyes/faceups, my timeline is about 2 weeks
       
      • x 1